General practice in England: the current crisis, opportunities, and challenges
File(s)UK General Practice V3.docx (44.55 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Razai, Mohammad S
Majeed, Azeem
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
General practice or family medicine has historically been lauded as the "jewel in the crown" of the English National Health Service (NHS) (M. Marshall, 2015). General practice, at the heart of primary care, has continued to contribute to the high ranking of the NHS in international comparisons (M. S. Razai & A. Majeed, 2021) and evidence from several decades of research has shown that general practice in the UK has improved the nation's health (Royal College of General Practitioners, 2013). Furthermore, it has provided equitable, cost-effective, and accessible care for all with the flexibility to adapt rapidly to a changing society and political climates, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic when there was rapid implementation of remote consultation models (Royal College of General Practitioners, 2013). However, this much-admired public sector service has recently come under unprecedented political and media spotlight instigated by the pressures of the current pandemic on the NHS (M. S. Razai & A. Majeed, 2021). This coupled with collapsing morale among general practitioners (GPs), a shrinking GP workforce, inexorable demands, increasing workload, and decreasing real-terms per capita funding have caused many to sound alarm on a general practice in "crisis" (C. Gerada, 2021). In this article, we describe the evolving nature of general practice and the current crisis, as well as potential solutions and opportunities going forward.
Date Issued
2022-04-01
Date Acceptance
2022-02-01
Citation
Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, 2022, 45 (2), pp.135-139
ISSN
0148-9917
Publisher
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Start Page
135
End Page
139
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Ambulatory Care Management
Volume
45
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35202030
PII: 00004479-202204000-00007
Subjects
Attitude of Health Personnel
COVID-19
England
Family Practice
General Practice
General Practitioners
Humans
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2
State Medicine
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States